Best point cards in Japan for everyday savings

Every time you shop in Japan without a point card, you leave a little money behind. Konbini (convenience store) snacks, supermarket runs, and online orders – it all adds up, and point programs like Rakuten Point, d Point, Ponta, and V Point let you claw some of it back.

This guide explains how point cards work in Japan, which ones suit expats, and how to use them without adding friction to your daily life.

Last checked on 22 October 2026. Check the official pages for the latest details before you sign up.

Key takeaways

• Check your nearest konbini: If you often shop at convenience stores, pick a card your local konbini accepts.
• Build on the brands you already use: If you already use Rakuten, docomo, or au, start with Rakuten Point, d Point, or Ponta.
• Match your shopping habits: Choose a broad card like d Point if you shop in many places, or WAON if you mostly shop at AEON.
• Think about how you pay: If you already pay by phone, try PayPay Points.
• Look for extra value: Convert Ponta points into JAL miles, or earn twice by showing your Rakuten Point card and paying with Rakuten Pay.

What are point cards in Japan?

Point cards in Japan are loyalty programs that reward you for shopping.

They come in several forms: a card for a single store, a program shared by many stores, or an app that combines points with mobile payments.

Most of them follow the same principle. You earn points when you pay, then spend them like cash on a future purchase. In most programs, 1 point is worth about ¥1.

Point cards matter most for everyday spending. You’ll be offered one at konbini, supermarkets, drugstores, chain cafés, and casual restaurants. For expats who have just arrived, these small savings can make a real difference while you adjust to the cost of living in Japan.

How to choose the right point card for your daily life in Japan

The best point card for you is the one that matches how you already spend. If you spread your purchases across too many programs, you collect points more slowly and lose track of expiration dates.

Before you sign up, ask yourself these questions:

• Where do you shop most, and how often?
• Do you prefer an app or a physical card?
• Do you already use a brand such as Rakuten or docomo?
• Does it work with the payment method you already use?
• Can you spend your points easily at checkout?
• Can you sign up without a Japanese phone number or local address?

If you mainly shop at one chain, a store-linked card can work well. If your spending is more mixed, a broad program is usually the better choice.

Best point cards in Japan for foreign residents

Japan has dozens of point cards, but only a handful are widely used by locals.

Last checked on 22 October 2026 against official program pages. Partner lists and rules can change.

The following table compares 7 major point systems by earning rate, redemption value, expiration rules, and participating partners.

System	Run by	Earning rate	Redemption rate	Expiration	Main partners
Rakuten Point	Rakuten Group	1 point per ¥100	1 point = ¥1	1 year after your last earning or use	FamilyMart, ENEOS, Yoshinoya, Gusto, KFC
d Point	NTT docomo	Variable based on retailer – from 1 point per ¥100	1 point = ¥1	12 months after your last earning or use	Lawson, FamilyMart, Life, ENEOS, apollostation
Ponta	Loyalty Marketing	1 point per ¥100	1 point = ¥1	1 year after your last earning or use	Lawson, Lawson Store 100, Life, KFC, apollostation
V Point (formerly T-Point)	SMBC	1 point per ¥100	1 point = ¥1	1 year after your last earning, use, or exchange	FamilyMart App, Welcia, TSUTAYA, ENEOS, Gusto, Yoshinoya
nanaco	Seven & i group	1 point per ¥200	1 point = ¥1	2 years from earning	7-Eleven, Ito-Yokado, and other Seven & i stores
WAON	AEON group	1 point per ¥200; 2 points at AEON group stores	1 point = ¥1	Up to 2 years; using points does not extend it	AEON, MaxValu, Ministop, Welcia
PayPay Points	PayPay (SoftBank group)	0.5% on PayPay balance, 1% on PayPay Credit, up to 1.5%	1 point = ¥1	No expiration	Merchants accepting PayPay across Japan

Which point card works at which konbini

You can show only one point card per purchase, so your local konbini can decide which card is worth having.

The table below compares example accepted loyalty cards at 4 major convenience store chains.

Konbini	Example accepted cards
7-Eleven	nanaco
Lawson	Ponta or d Point
FamilyMart	d Point, Rakuten Point, or V Point
Ministop	WAON

Rakuten Point Card

Source : Rakuten point official website

Rakuten Point Card is one of the easiest broad systems to use: scan the card or app at checkout, then spend the points across the Rakuten ecosystem and its partners. It works best for people who already use Rakuten services or shop at FamilyMart, ENEOS, or Yoshinoya.

Key advantages:

• Points can also be spent at 7-Eleven and Lawson through the Rakuten Pay app
• Showing the card and paying with Rakuten Pay earns points twice
• Points convert to ANA miles (2 points = 1 mile)

d Point

Source : d CARD official website (NTT Docomo)

d Point is a docomo service, but no docomo contract is needed to use it. It suits Lawson shoppers and people who already use docomo services.

Key advantages:

• Points can be swapped for selected Lawson products with trial coupons, often at about twice the usual value
• 1% back in d Points on Amazon orders of ¥5,000 or more, once the accounts are linked
• Points can be shared with family or friends who also use d Point

Ponta

Source: Ponta official website (Recruit)

Ponta is a broad rewards system linked to au. It is a strong choice if a weekly routine already includes Lawson, Lawson Store 100, Life, KFC, or apollostation.

Key advantages:

• Cardholders get a variety of special advantages in Lawson stores
• Works with Lawson’s trial coupons for better-value redemptions
• Points convert to JAL miles (2 points = 1 mile)

V Point (formerly T-Point)

Source : V Point official website

V Point replaced T-Point in April 2024, when it merged with SMBC’s V Point. It suits people who regularly shop at FamilyMart, Welcia, TSUTAYA, ENEOS, Gusto, or Yoshinoya.

Key advantages:

• With the V Point Pay app, points can be spent anywhere that accepts Visa contactless, in Japan and abroad
• Points last 1 year after the last earning, use, or exchange

nanaco

Source : nanaco official website (Seven & i Holdings)

nanaco is the Seven & i group’s point and e-money system, built mainly around 7-Eleven. The physical card costs ¥300, while the app is free.

Key advantages:

• The only point card accepted at 7-Eleven
• Free and quick to set up in the app

WAON

Source : WAON official website (AEON)

WAON is AEON’s point and payment system. It suits people who shop often at AEON, MaxValu, Ministop, or Welcia, and the app is free to start with.

Key advantages:

• Registered WAON members earn double points at AEON group stores
• On the 20th of each month, Welcia lets shoppers spend 200 or more WAON POINT at 1.5 times their value

PayPay Points

Source : PayPay official website

PayPay Points work inside PayPay, Japan’s most widely used QR payment app: points are earned by paying with the app, with no card to show. They suit people who already pay by phone.

Key advantages:

• Accepted by merchants across Japan
• Standard points never expire

How to get a point card in Japan

Most point card programs give you two ways to join: you can get a physical card in store, or you can register online and use an app.

If you’re still settling in, opening a bank account in Japan is usually the first step before you start thinking about points, rewards, or other daily payment tools.

Getting a physical point card in store

Some programs still let you get a card directly at the shop or service counter. This is often the easiest route if you prefer to keep things simple.

The process usually looks like this:

This option is usually best if you shop often at the same chain and want a card you can carry in your wallet. It can be less convenient if the card costs money or if you prefer to manage everything on your phone.

Getting a point card online or in an app

The app route is often easier for newcomers because you can usually register from home and show a barcode on your phone at checkout.

In many cases, this is the fastest way to start collecting points.

The process usually looks like this:

This option is usually best if you want to avoid carrying another plastic card, or if you want to check your points and expiration dates in one place. It also works well for programs that offer digital-only sign-up.

How to earn more points in Japan: poi-katsu tips

In Japan, collecting points on purpose is called poi-katsu (ポイ活), short for “point activity”. You don’t need a complex strategy. The best results usually come from a few simple habits that fit into your normal routine.

Stack rewards when the rules allow it

One of the easiest ways to earn more is to use the point card first and then pay with a linked payment method. In some cases, that lets you collect rewards twice on the same purchase.

For example, you might show a Rakuten Point Card and then pay with Rakuten Pay, depending on the store and the current rules.

Use time-based offers when they match your routine

Some systems give you better value at specific times or in specific stores. At Lawson, for example, special offers can mean that Ponta and d Point offer double points from 4:00 pm to midnight on selected purchases. That’s useful if you already shop there in the evening.

Link accounts and watch local campaigns

Some systems work better when you connect them to other services. For example, linking d Point with Amazon can give you 1% back in d Points on eligible orders of ¥5,000 or more.

PayPay also runs local campaigns from time to time, and some cities offer extra points at participating shops.

Spend campaign points first

Campaign points often expire faster than standard points. If your app shows point history, use those temporary points first. That small habit can save value you might otherwise lose.

To get the very best from your card, always scan your card before you pay. If you forget, the points usually cannot be added later.

How point cards fit into your wider money setup in Japan

Point cards are a simple way to save on everyday spending in Japan, but they’re only one part of managing money here. For most newcomers, the priority is to sort out the basics first: a bank account, a payment method, and a budget for rent, groceries, and bills.

Point cards help you save on what you spend in Japan. But many expats also need to move money between countries: sending money home or paying for something overseas. That’s where Wise can help. Wise supports 40+ currencies and shows its fees upfront, so you can see what an international transfer costs before you send it.

Sources

Expatica’s experts are all about providing the most up to date and accurate information. All guides are fact checked, and whenever we use external sources (like government websites or research papers) we’ll make a note of them here so you can check them out too.

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3. Current V Point guidance and partner updates, V Point official site
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